Vista, the Dubai-headquartered private aviation group that operates VistaJet, has agreed to purchase 40 Bombardier Challenger 3500 aircraft, with options for a further 120, in one of the largest fleet deals the private aviation sector has seen in recent years.

Deliveries begin in 2026 and will be phased over up to 10 years. The agreement consolidates Vista’s super-midsize aircraft operations onto a single platform, standardising the onboard experience for clients regardless of where they fly.

A year of strong growth

The deal follows what the company describes as another year of double-digit growth. Its subscription-based Programme membership grew by 12% in 2025, with flight hours up 16% year-on-year. Growth was recorded across all regions, with the Middle East up 32%, Africa up 30% and Asia up 22% — outpacing the group’s more established markets in the US and Europe, which grew 11% and 15% respectively.

Thomas Flohr, Founder and Chairman of Vista, said the order reflected long-term planning rather than a response to short-term demand. “We are continuing to build the fleet our Members will rely on over the next decade — not reacting to short-term cycles, but investing with clarity, scale and discipline,” he said.

The Challenger 3500 has been a central aircraft in Vista’s fleet strategy, chosen in part for its cabin technology, which includes voice-controlled systems, redesigned interiors and Nuage zero-gravity seating.

Vista operates across 96% of the world’s countries through its VistaJet and XO brands, and employs more than 4,000 people globally.

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Main photo source: VistaJet